MAX: Mike's Automation eXperiment

MAX is a system designed to integrate various types of home automation devices using a web services interface. All devices are completely abstracted from each other. Why is this good? Well, just imagine if your cel phone could automatically turn on your lights when you came home, or if you had a light sensor that could tell the network when the sun went down. The core of MAX is a generic web-service call system that looks up the specific call parameters in a database and then executes the call. This requires zero code changes to the system whenever a new device type or interface is added to the network. All that has to be done is update or insert a new record in a database. The database also stores scripts which are lists of the web service calls which can be invoked in response to various events (such as the network detecting that your phone has left the house).

The system is controllable via WAP, web page, a wireless palm device, and even the TV. It uses X10 to control lights, and various other types of devices for detecting motion, the presence of Bluetooth devices, etc.